Paris’ court of appeal has given Christian Louboutin's exclusive rights
over his iconic red soles, after a legal battle between the shoe designer
and leather goods company Kesslord, which offered similar models in France. Christian Louboutin’s
shoes are famous for the soles in bright red -- more specifically, color
number 18.1663TP in Pantone’s color chart.

In 2013,
Louboutin notified Kesslord, claiming it reproduced the characteristics of its
trademarked product. After several exchanges between the two comnpanies, Kesslord finally decided to
bring Mr. Louboutin and his company to court, requesting the
trademark to be lifted.

In March 2017, the court decided in
favor of Christian Louboutin and sentenced Kesslord to pay 5,000 euros to
the French designer and his company. Kesslord appealed at the Paris Court of Appeal, which confirmed the
judgment on Thursday, raising the amount owed by Kesslord to Louboutin a total of
7,500 euros.

"With this judgment, the Court of Appeal confirms that
the affixing of red color on the sole of a high-heeled shoe is protectable
under trademark law, confirming the argument supported by Christian
Louboutin for several years", said a statement
sent by the Louboutin to AFP.

This is not the first time
Louboutin has gotten involved in a legal battle over the red soles.
In 2012, a court in the United States also recognized them as
Louboutin’s trademark, "except if the rest (of the shoe) is the same
color".

Another procedure against a Dutch company is currently underway at the
Court of Justice of the European Union, which is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks. (AFP)